Parenteau Breaks through in Shootout

February 27, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


HARTFORD, Conn. _ With offensive chances limited on both sides, it seemed this one was headed to a shootout.

Fittingly, wing P.A. Parenteau scored the only goal in 10 tries in the skills competition, giving the Wolf Pack a 2-1 victory over the Manchester Monarchs before 6,636 at the XL Center Friday night.

"I had my move in mind before I went," said Parenteau, who beat Daniel Taylor high to the glove side. "I was looking to go mid-to-high glove with a lot of speed and made a quick shot. It worked out good after I'd been struggling in the shootout in my career. It was nice to finally get one and help the team get a win, especially when not much seemed to be working offensively.

"But we got it done, and that's what a good team does. We're on a roll right now."

Matt Zaba, making his season-high sixth consecutive start, made 28 saves and stopped all five Monarchs shots in the shootout as the Wolf Pack extended their winning streak to a season-high five in a row and went nine games above .500 for the first time this season. The five-game streak ties their high last season and includes a 3-2 victory over the Monarchs last Sunday on Brodie Dupont's goal with 5.2 seconds left in regulation.

The Wolf Pack improved to 2-3 in shootouts after losing three in a row and owed much of it to Zaba, who is 16-8-0-0 and has stopped 156 of 162 shots since a 1-0 loss to Bridgeport Feb. 18.

"I'm just trying to make the most of my opportunity to play," said Zaba, who had backed up Miika Wiikman most of the season. "My main focus is just trying to give the team a chance to win."

Zaba said he tried to stay sharp early in the season talking to Rangers goaltenders coach Benoit Allaire about how Steve Valiquette handles things as the seldom-used backup to Henrik Lundqvist.

"Bennie said it's all about practicing hard like you're playing a game," Zaba said. "If you're really mentally engaged in practice, it carries over to games, so that was a key for me. Tonight the guys did a great job keeping the shots outside so I could see the puck, and that always makes the goalie's job a lot easier."

All-Star center Artem Anisimov, the Wolf Pack's second-leading scorer (62), sustained an undisclosed upper-body injury when hit by the Monarchs' Drew Bagnall with 5:11 left and didn't return. But he made the post-game trip to Maine for tonight's game against the Portland Pirates.

The Wolf Pack got a fortuitous early lead when defenseman Corey Potter's flip from just outside the blueline appeared to deflect off Monarchs defenseman Alec Martinez and past the glove of Daniel Taylor at 1:05.

Two fights and two Monarchs power plays were the only other notable occurrences in the opening period.

But after the Monarchs (27-26-0-6) failed on another power play, they tied the score at 7:55, as Davis Drewiske got away from Greg Moore, skated out of the left corner and around Sean Avery and put the puck off of Zaba's stick to Justin Azevedo, alone at the right post for an easy finish.

During an ensuing 4-on-4, Zaba stopped Oscar Moller's partial breakaway off the right wing after a Wolf Pack turnover in center ice.

The Wolf Pack then failed to convert on a 5-on-3, though Avery came close to breaking the tie when his shot hit Taylor and the right post before ricocheting out at 15:31. On the ensuing 5-on-4, Taylor came out to rob Potter skating in off the right point after a good setup by Parenteau.

Taylor made a good stop off Jordan Owens in the slot at 4:48 of the third period, then denied Avery off a 2-on-1 shorthanded bid at 10:46.

Zaba stopped Azevedo on the doorstep as a Monarchs power play ended with 8:51 left and denied Drewiske through a screen in the final minute, sending the game to overtime.

Zaba made the best save in extra time when he stopped Viatcheslav Voynov's 35-foot shot from the slot.

"I wouldn't categorize it as a playoff game, but it was very tight to the vest," Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander said. "There wasn't a lot of offense, which you're pleased with from a defensive standpoint. We'd like to generate a little more, but we got the two points, and that's most important, along with reducing some of the scoring chances we had been giving up lately."

Zaba again earned plaudits from his coach.

"He has been playing really well for us," Gernander said. "He's a decent size goalie who plays a tight, solid game. He's square to pucks, you don't see a lot of rebounds and he's good at steering them into the corner. I like his demeanor because he's got a lot of composure, and this time of year is where you like to see guys step up."



American Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2009


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